Loving Myself Like Never Before

NOW is the Best Time to Care 4 You!

Welcome to Janine’s Journal Jam. An offering of journal prompts and the stories that spark them. May they inspire you to jam with your journal!

Read Here about why journaling is such an integral part of my life.

Hearts by Courtonthecob; XoXo hearts by natalie.osipova; words and design by author.

Every Sunday I pull cards after meditation to guide me on my week. This practice sets me up on what I need to focus on. The first card I pulled for this week was to INVITE HELP and the second was EASE. The third I felt deeply–SELF-LOVE.

Card from Divining Abundance Oracle Cards by Tosha Silver. Art by Fena Gonzalez

I’ve been doing a great deal of energy work with Kelly M. Ballard, who posts weekly energy readings every Monday. I enjoy the synchronicities of how her readings connect with my card pulling. I’ve also done some deep releasing of intergenerational trauma and stories, as guided by Dr. Mariel Buqué in her book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma.

I’ve been receiving many AHA’s connected to my inner child and releasing harmful stories. Yet, the second sentence on this card made me pause and ponder.

What does taking care of myself like never before mean?

Loving Myself Like Never Before immediately popped into my thoughts, and I felt that in my heart.

Some obvious ways are:

• Doing What I LOVE and What Lifts Me Up

• Caring for My Body

• Putting Myself First

• Being With Those Who Lift Me Up

I needed to go deeper to see how I could bring this idea further into my life.

Doing what I love and what lifts me up

I believe I’m very clear on what I enjoy and what fuels me. I create space to do some of it.

But how could I do more in a way that lifts me up?

What could I get rid of that I don’t really enjoy or doesn’t fit right now?

One thing I noticed was my obsession with keeping a running streak with Duolingo. I was close to 2,000 days. I have studied Spanish, Italian and dabbled in Gaelic and Greek. But I found that I was doing the quickest lesson possible just to continue my streak! I learned a bit but it wasn’t for the language. It was for the competition with my phone.

So I stopped.

Do I wish to learn Italian and Spanish? Yes.

But I want to learn it because I enjoy it.

When I visit those countries, I wish to speak the language. I will do it when it’s love for the language and not a computerized algorithm.

I’m learning to draw to express my creativity and to doodle in my journal.

Artwork by author

This feels right with Loving Myself because I enjoy it so much! It’s not to earn points or stay on the diamond level. Yes, those are motivating factors but I wasn’t feeling the LOVE. It actually added stress.

I draw because it brings me JOY. Simple as that.

Caring for my Body

I’ll be the first to admit that I have been rough on my body. Years of typing, writing, sports, exercising, not listening to my body, stress, loss, putting others and other things before myself have wreaked havoc on these bones!

I start exercising, then something happens. I feel like I’m always starting over. But I show myself grace by beginning again. With my food allergies and sensitivities, I have to be diligent about the food I eat.

So what does Loving Myself Like Never Before mean for my body?

Yoga, weight lifting for strength and longevity. Nourishment for brain health. Being able to ride my motorcycle, dance, and walk. Go on vacation. LOVE my family. Care for my mom. Live a full and vivacious life. Moisturize my skin every day. Take baths. Rest. Read. Sleep.

I guess those are also the reasons why.

It’s also about LOVING MYSELF UNCONDITIONALLY like I LOVE my family. LOVE myself fully at each point in my life. Now as much as I did in my 20’s or 30’s and probably even more.

LOVE=FORGIVENESS=ACCEPTANCE=JOY

It’s a process to LOVE myself unconditionally. To FORGIVE myself for things that are outside of my control. To ACCEPT myself as I am. To be in JOY because I am a brilliant Goddess soul in this human body.

Putting Myself First

This is probably the hardest to wrap my head around. To understand that by doing this, I am filling my cup so that it overflows for all who need it.

Caring for my soul and energetic body just as much as caring for my physical body. Having non-negotiable boundaries and being super clear on them.

Standing in my Truth.

Being unapologetically authentic in who I am.

Listen and follow my intuition, because it’s usually spot on. Don’t doubt or put myself down. My thoughts are as uplifting or as destructive as a hug or a slap.

Be With Those Who Lift Me Up

Being a practicing reformed people pleaser, I constantly check in to see if I’m doing something that serves my Highest and Best Good or if I’m falling into the pattern of saying yes, because I want to please someone or need to avoid conflict.

Loving Myself Like Never Before is pausing before I say yes or no. Checking my inner compass and asking:

• Does this align with my values?

• Is it LOVE-infused?

• Does this person lift me up?

• Does this fit into my schedule, especially keeping space for creativity and curiosity?

• The biggest question to ask about anything is Am I Loving Myself Like Never Before if I do this?

Yes there are obligations and activities we must do. Within that how can I still LOVE more.

Maybe that is by showing LOVE to another. Spending time with a friend. Caring for a parent.

Is it LOVE-infused? If yes, then that aligns with that level of LOVE that we can’t help but soak in.

This article came flowing out of me like a dam bursting. So there’s a definite need. Will I do all of this? Will I look back at this in a month and rethink it? I’ll try this out for the month, journal, reflect, and adjust and will keep you updated.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. How you can Love Yourself Like Never Before?

When we LOVE ourselves so fully that we’re bursting with JOY, others can only benefit.

Let’s Connect: Always happy to hear from you. Feel free to share stories or how this resonates. All thoughts are welcome!

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